Depending on their location, Israelis have as little as 15 seconds to find shelter when Hamas launches rocket attacks from inside the Gaza Strip. The scramble was illustrated during a recent visit to the Netiv Haasara kibbutz, not far from the Gaza border, where reservists were talking about their call-up to duty when alert warnings sounded on loudspeakers. A little later, there was a distant boom.
According to Israel, Hamas has fired 2825 rockets into Israel since the start of the conflict. In retaliation, Israel has launched a ground and air offensive against the militants. On Thursday, overall Palestinian death toll rose to at least 1,360, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has lost 56 soldiers and three civilians.
IN-DEPTH
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